Aqueous detergent compositions thickened using carrageenan

Abstract

A thickened, aqueous detergent composition having an aqueous phase containing foaming surfactant, carrageenan and water. Conveniently, the carrageenan is at least half kappa or iota carrageenan, or a mixture of the two.

We claim:  
     
       1. A thickened, aqueous detergent composition having an aqueous phase containing foaming surfactant, carrageenan and water; 
       wherein at least half of the carrageenan is selected from the group consisting of iota carrageenan, kappa carrageenan and mixtures thereof;  
       wherein said aqueous phase contains at least about 5% by wt. anionic surfactant and a lesser quantity of zwitterionic surfactant;  
       wherein said aqueous phase further includes electrolyte other than surfactant and wherein said electrolyte other than surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sodium ions, potassium ions, calcium ions and mixtures thereof; and  
       wherein said foaming surfactant makes up at least two thirds of the total level of surfactant in the composition.  
     
     
       2. A composition according to claim  1  wherein the foaming surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. A composition according to claim  2  wherein the aqueous phase contains at least 3 wt % anionic surfactant. 
     
     
       4. A composition according to claim  3  wherein the aqueous phase contains 5 to 20 wt % anionic surfactant. 
     
     
       5. A composition according to claim  1  wherein the foaming surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic, and nonionic other than ethoxylated fatty alcohol surfactants, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the foaming surfactant makes up at least half of the total level of surfactant in the composition. 
     
     
       6. A composition according to claim  1  wherein the foaming surfactant contains nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl glycosides, O-alkanoyl glycosides, polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymers, alkyl polyhydroxyamides, alkyl aldobionamides and their mixtures. 
     
     
       7. A composition according to claim  1  to wherein the aqueous phase contains in total from 7 to 20 wt % surfactant. 
     
     
       8. A composition according to claim  1  wherein the aqueous phase contains from 0.05 to 5% by weight of carrageenan. 
     
     
       9. A composition according to claim  1  wherein the aqueous phase contains from 0.3 to 5 wt % carrageenan. 
     
     
       10. A composition according to claim  1  wherein the aqueous phase contains from 0.1 to 5 wt % of electrolyte other than surfactant. 
     
     
       11. A composition according to claim  1  wherein the composition consists solely of a thickened aqueous phase. 
     
     
       12. A composition according to claim  1 , wherein the composition has incorporated solid or liquid suspended particles. 
     
     
       13. A pack containing a composition according claim  1 , which pack subjects the composition to shear as it is dispensed therefrom so as to give the dispensed composition a smooth appearance. 
     
     
       14. A pack containing a composition according to claim  1  which is a flexible container having a closable outlet orifice with a diameter of 1-3 mm 2  cross section.